Pumping well shut-off valve



June 13, 1967 w. 1... DUNN ET AL 3,325,613

PUMPING WELL SHUT-OFF VALVE Filed 0m. 22, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ill!INVENTORSI WILBUR L. DUNN PAUL H JOHNSON ATTORNEYS June 11%? W. a...DUNN ET L 3,325,613

PUMPING WELL SHUTOFF VALVE Filed. on. 22, 1965 2 Sheets-$heet 2INVENTORS WfLEIUR L. DUNN PAUL H. JOHNSON ATTORNEYS United States Patent3,325,613 PUMPING WELL SHUT-OFF VALVE Wilbur L. Dunn, 1204 E. 25th74114, and Paul H. .girlnson, 4259 E. 71st Place 74135, both of Tulsa,

Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 501,219 6 Claims. (Cl. 200-82) Thisinvention relates to a pumping well shut-01f valve. More particularly,the invention relates to a valve adapted to be placed in the flow lineof a pumping oil well to detect the cessation of fluid flow and toactuate a switch to shut the well olf upon the cessation of fluid flow.

Most oil wells, after an initial period in which the undergroundpressure is suflicient to force the produced fluid to the surface,undergo an extended period during which the crude must be pumped to thesurface. The most common methods of pumping wells is the use of a bottomhole positive displacement pump reciprocated by a string of sucker rods.These types of pumps produce a pulsating fluid flow at the surface. Mostpumping equipment is designed to pump somewhat in excess of productionrate so that the wells are pumped only part time, that is, by timedcycles. For instance, some wells are pumped for one period a day whileothers may be pumped for two or three periods during the day. A mostcommon method of controlling the pumping cycles is by the use of timeclocks which turn the well pumping system on and ed at preselectedperiods. With use of such time clocks the actual pumping time must beestimated and frequently it is impossible to accurately predict theexact amount of time which will be required for pumping a well. Wellsare frequently timed to pump slightly longer than the estimated maximumtime required to insure maximum production. This means that with eachpumping cycle the well so timed will pump for a period after theproduction of crude oil has ceased. The pumping of Wells afterproduction ceases is expensive in that unnecessary wear on the pumpingequipment occurs. In addition, the power costs of producing a wellincreases and the polish rod is not bathed in the produced crude andtherefore runs dry, tending to wear out the polish rod stufling box.

This invention provides a means of detecting the cessation of fluid flowin a pumped oil well and of actuating a switch to shut ofi the pumpingsystem when fluid flow ceases.

This basic object and more particular objects will be understood fromthe following description and claims taken in conjunction with theattached drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an external view of the pumping well shut ofl valve of thisinvention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the shut ofl valve ofthis invention.

FIGURE 3 is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view of the valve showingthe plug raised slightly by the effect of gas pressure and showing themethod by which gas is vented by the valve.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view as in FIGURE 3 but showing the valveplug raised by fluid pressure to the point where fluid flow through thevalve occurs.

FIGURE 5 is a segmented vie-w showing an alternate arrangement of theinvention utilizing a diaphragm as a means of sealing the valve stem.

FIGURE 6 is a segmental cross-sectional view showing an alternatearrangement of the upper end of the valve stem of the valve of thisinvention providing an overtravel means for actuating the switch.

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 7--7 of FIGURE6.

Referring now to the drawings and first to FIGURE 1, the pumping wellshut-off valve of this invention is in dicated by the numeral 10 and isshown positioned in an oil well lead line 12 through which crude oilproduced by the well flows.

Referring to FIGURE 2, the valve is shown in enlarged cross-sectionalview. The valve includes a body 14 having a flow passageway 16therethrough. A portion of the flow pasageway 16 includes a verticalcylindrical flow chamber 18. At the top of the flow chamber 18 isprovided a horizontal sealing surface 20.

The body 14 has an upper opening 22 which is closed with a bonnet 24.The bonnet in turn has an opening 26 which is closed with a stem guide28 having a vertical stem opening 30.

Positioned in the vertical flow chamber 18 is a valve plug, generallyindicated by the numeral 32, which includes a vertical cylindricalportion 34 and an upperv larger diameter horizontal flange portion 36.Beneath the flange portion 36 is a flat sealing gasket 38 which may beoptionally utilized to seal again fluid flow in the reverse directionthrough the valve. Downwardly extending from the vertical cylindricalportion 34 are integral guide fiingers 40 which provide fio-wpassageways 42 therebetween.

The valve plug 32 is affixed to an axial valve stem 44 which extendsupwardly and is slidably and sealably received by stem opening 30. Agasket 46 prevents leakage of fluid at the stern opening 30.

The valve plug 32 is provided with a small diameter gas opening 48 forpurposes to be described subsequently. The gas opening 48 is in thecylindrical portion of the valve plug 34 and communicates with theexterior of the cylindrical portion adjacent to and below the integralhorizontal flange portion 36, or when the sealing gasket 38 is provided,below such sealing gasket.

Supported to valve bonnet 24 above the valve is a switch member 50 whichpreferably is contained in a housing 52. The switch member 50 has adownwardly extending actuating element 54. Switch member 50 is of a typecommercially available-providing an electrical contact when actuatingelement 54 is depressed and a pneumatic time delay of switch ofdeactuation. The amount of time delayis controlled by knob 56.

A plate 58 is supported above valve body 14 by bol 60, the plate havingan opening 62. A stern extension 64v passes through the opening 62, thestem extension having a bolt 68 axially extending from the upperendthereof. A tubular guide 70 having a flange 72 reciprocallyireceives thestem extension 64. At the juncture of the stem extension 64 and thevalve stem 44 a spring retaining washer 74 is provided. Between theguide flange 72 and the spring Washer 74 a spring 76 is inserted, thespring being in compression to normally urge the valve stem 44 andthereby the valve plug 32 downwardly into sealing engagement with thevalve body.

When the well to which the valve of this invention is applied is pumpingand a surge of produced fluid flows through the lead line 12, the fluidflow will force the valve plug 32 upwardly. Fluid cannot pass throughthe valve until the plug 32 is moved upwardly the height required forthe plug cylindrical portion 34 to clear the vertical flow chamber 18.This position is shown in FIG- URE 4. With the cylindrical portion 34above the flow chamber 18 fluid flow can pass through the guide fingers40. This upward movement of the valve plug 32 and stem 44 causes thebolt 68 to engage switch plunger 54 and actuate the switch.

In some oil wells gas is produced even though no fluid is beingproduced. In most instances it is not economically desirable to pump anoil well after fluid flow has ceased even though some gas flowcontinues. If the gas pressure builds sufliciently to cause the plunger32 to move upwardly a false indication of fluid flow would be given. Tocorrect for this situation a unique feature of this invention is theprovision of the previously mentioned small diameter gas opening 48 inthe cylindrical portion 34 of the valve plug. The eflect on the valve ofgas pressure is shown in FIGURE 3. The gas pressure will force the plug32 upwardly so that the small diameter gas opening 48 clears the top ofthe vertical flow chamber 18. This permits the gas to vent but in amanner such that the valve plug 32 is not moved upwardly suflicient toactuate the switch. Thus, the gas pressure vented through the valvewithout giving a false indication of fluid flow.

In the arrangement of FIGURE 2 the valve stem 44 is sealed by a gasket46. An alternate arrangement of sealing the stem is shown in FIGURE 5.In this arrangement the valve stem 44 is formed of lower portion 44A andupper portion 44B and between the portions the center ofa diaphragm 78is positioned. The outer circumference 80 of the diaphragm 78 is sealedagainst the bonnet 24 by means of a washer 82 having a large diameteropening 84 therein. The washer is held against the valve bonnet 24 bymeans of spaced bolts 86. In the arrangement of FIGURE 5 the valve stem44 rises and falls as actuated by the plug 32, the diaphragm 78permitting such reciprocation without leakage.

FIGURES 6 and 7 show an alternate arrangement providing an adjustableover-travel means for the actuation of switch 50. Bolt 68 is providedwith an axial opening 88 which slidably receives a guide pin 90. Aspring 92 urges the guide pin 90 upwardly. To strain the upward travelof the guide pin 30 bracket 94 extends from the guide pin headdownwardly and is turned under the head of bolt 68. In this arrangementwhen the valve stem extension 64 is moved upwardly by flow in the valvethe guide pin 90 contacts the switch actuating element 54 to actuate theswitch. If unusually large fiuid flow occurs in the valve moving theplug upwardly more than the normal travel, the over-travel iscompensated for by the spring 92.

By means of this invention the flow of fluid from a pumped oil well isdetected by switch 50 which, being of the time delay type, is adjustedso that the pulsating fluid flow continues to maintain the switch inactuated condition. Upon cessation of the pulsating fluid flow theswitch deactuates to shut off the pumping well.

The invention provides a valve for detecting pulsating fluid flow in anarrangement wherein gas pressure is vented through the valve without afalse indication of fluid flow.

While the invention has been described with a certain degree ofparticularity it is manifest that many changes may be made in thedetails of construction and the arrangement of components withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

What is claimed:

1. A pumping well shut-off valve comprising:

a body having a flow passageway therethrough, a

portion of said flow passageway defined by a vertical cylindrical flowchamber, the body having a horizontal sealing surface around and abovethe flow chamber and a vertical stern opening therein in axial alignmentwith said cylindrical flow chamber;

a valve plug having a vertical cylindrical portion slidably received insaid cylindrical flow chamber and an upper larger diameter integralhorizontal flange portion, the cylindrical portion having lower spacedintegral downwardly extending guide fingers, the guide fingers providingflow passageways there between, the valve plug having a small diametergas opening in the cylindrical portion,-the opening communicating withthe exterior of the cylindrical portion adjacent to and below theintegral horizontal flange portion;

an axial stem afiixed at the lower end to said valve plug and extendingslidably and sealably through said body vertical stem opening; and

a switch member supported to and above the valve body, the switch memberhaving an actuating element extending therefrom aligned to engage theupper end of said stem whereby the switch member is actuated by fluidflow through the valve body.

2. 'A pumping well shut-off valve according to claim 1 including asealing gasket aflixed to the lower surface of said valve horizontalflange portion for engaging the said horizontal sealing surface, saidgas opening communicating with the exterior of said valve plugcylindrical portion adjacent to and below the sealing gasket.

3. A pumping well shut-off valve according to claim 1 including springmeans biasing the valve plug downwardly.

4. A pumping well shut-off valve according to claim 1 wherein the upperend of said stem has an axial threaded opening therein and including abolt threaded into said stem opening providing means of adjusting theactuation of said switch member.

'5. A pumping well shut-off valve according to claim 1 includingadjustable spring biased over-travel means afiixed to the upper end ofsaid stem for engagement of said switch;

6. A pumping well shut-off valve according to claim 1 including asealing diaphragm having an axial opening therein sealably received bysaid stem, the outer di ameter of said diaphragm received by said body.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS BERNARD A. GILHEANY, PrimaryExaminer.

H. BROOME, Assistant Examiner.

1. A PUMPING WELL SHUT-OFF VALVE COMPRISING: A BODY HAVING A FLOWPASSAGEWAY THERETHROUGH, A PORTION OF SAID FLOW PASSAGEWAY DEFINED BY AVERTICAL CYLINDRICAL FLOW CHAMBER, THE BODY HAVING A HORIZONTAL SEALINGSURFACE AROUND AND ABOVE THE FLOW CHAMBER AND A VERTICAL STEM OPENINGTHEREIN IN AXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID CYLINDRICAL FLOW CHAMBER; A VALVEPLUG HAIVNG A VERTICAL CYLINDRICAL PORTION SLIDABLY RECEIVED IN SAIDCYLINDRICAL FLOW CHAMBER AND AN UPPER LARGER DIAMETER INTEGRALHORIZONTAL FLANGE PORTION, THE CYLINDRICAL PORTION HAVING LOWER SPACEDINTEGRAL DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING GUIDE FINGERS, THE GUIDE FINGERS PROVIDINGFLOW PASSAGEWAYS THEREBETWEEN, THE VALVE PLUG HAVING A SMALL DIAMETERGAS OPENING IN THE CYLINDRICAL PORTION, THE OPENING COMMUNICATING WITHTHE EXTEROR OF THE CYLINDRICAL PORTION ADJACENT TO AND BELOW THEINTEGRAL HORIZONTAL FLANGE PORTION; AN AXIAL STEM AFFIXED AT THE LOWEREND TO SAID VALVE PLUG AND EXTENDING SLIDABLY AND SEALABLY THROUGH SAIDBODY VERTICAL STEM OPENING; AND A SWITCH MEMBER SUPPORTED TO AND ABOVETHE VALVE BODY, THE SWITCH MEMBER HAVING AN ACTUATING ELEMENT EXTENDINGTHEREFROM ALIGNED TO ENGAGE THE UPPER END OF SAID STEM WHEREBY THESWITCH MEMBER IS ACTUATED BY FLUID FLOW THROUGH THE VALVE BODY.